Abstract:

A water bottle for use in connection with a water treatment device
includes an opening with a diameter of at least about 0.87 inches, a
diameter of no greater than about 1.06 inches, and a height of at least
about 6.56 inches, and a height of no greater than about 8.02.

Claims:

1. A water bottle for use in connection with a water treatment device,
the bottle having a circular opening with a diameter of at least about
0.87 inches, a diameter of no greater than about 1.06 inches, and a
height of at least about 6.56 inches, and a height of no greater than
about 8.02 inches.

2. A water bottle as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottle includes a
bottom surface having a detent that mates with a protrusion included on
the base surface of the device, whereby the bottle snaps into place and
thereby provides the user with an indication as to when the bottle is
properly installed in the device.

3. A water bottle as defined in claim 2, wherein the bottle includes a
containment vessel, and further includes a cap removably connected with
the containment vessel.

4. A water bottle as defined in claim 3, wherein the containment vessel
includes the opening, and wherein the cap contains a spout.

5. A water bottle as defined in claim 4, further comprising a strap
movably connected with the bottle.

6. A water bottle as defined in claim 5, wherein the strap includes a
stopper for closing/sealing the spout.

7. A water bottle as defined in claim 6, wherein the cap includes a pair
of asymmetric keyways for rotatably receiving the ends of the strap.

8. A water bottle as defined in claim 7, wherein the bottle is generally
cylindrical, and the bottle has an outer diameter of no greater than
about 4 inches.

9. A water bottle as defined in claim 7, wherein the bottle has a volume
of at least about 0.75 liters, and a volume of no greater than about 1.25
liters.

10. A water bottle as defined in claim 8, wherein the bottle is reusable.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to water treatment and,
more particularly, to a water treatment device for filling at least one
bottle with treated tap water.

[0002] Oftentimes, municipal tap water has a taste or odor that people
find objectionable. Individuals seeking improved drinking water quality
may choose to either filter the tap water or purchase bottled water.

[0003] Gravity-fed and pressure-fed water filtration devices for filtering
domestic tap water are known in the patent art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,078
(Polasky, et. al.), for example, discloses a pour-through pitcher filter
assembly including a compact filter element including a thin annular disk
of molded activated carbon and a peripheral annular seal element. U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2006/024/0249442 (Yap, et. al.)
discloses a portable water container including a body defining a
reservoir, a replaceable filter housed in a storage compartment of the
body, and a connection assembly. The connection assembly connects a water
supply source to the filter. Pressurized water from the water supply
source flows under pressure through the filter and into the water
reservoir through an outlet port in the storage compartment.

[0004] People may also choose to drink bottled water for reasons such as
better taste, perceived health benefits, and convenience. Attempts have
been made to filter domestic water for water bottles. U.S. Pat. No.
6,641,719 (Naito), for example, discloses a water purifier for use with
bottle containers that is capable of being installed on a bottle
container such as a PET bottle and is capable of purifying water. U.S.
Pat. No. 7,427,355 (Chau) discloses a water treatment unit for
positioning in a sport bottle or container for treating water.

SUMMARY

[0005] Gravity-fed water filtration devices are generally slow filling,
and pressure-fed devices must be repeatedly connected to and disconnected
from a water source, which generally requires that the device and water
source have matching fittings. In addition, because of the amount of
space occupied by the filter, only about one-half of the container volume
is typically usable to hold filtered water. Such water pitchers also lack
the convenience and portability of a water bottle. Bottled water is more
expensive than drinking water from municipal sources, takes energy and
resources to produce, package, transport, and store, and produces a large
volume of plastic waste that must be properly disposed.

[0006] The need exists for a water bottle that can be used in connection
with a water treatment device that treats domestic tap water to make
bottled water. More particularly, the need exists for a water bottle that
is configured for use with such a water treatment device.

[0007] The present invention provides a water bottle for use in connection
with a water treatment device. The water bottle has a circular opening
with a diameter of at least about 0.87 inches, a diameter of no greater
than about 1.06 inches, and a height of at least about 6.56 inches, and a
height of no greater than about 8.02 inches.

[0008] In one aspect, the bottle may include a bottom surface having a
detent that mates with a protrusion included on the base of the device,
whereby the bottle snaps into place and thereby provides the user with an
indication as to when the bottle is properly installed in the device.

[0009] In another aspect, the bottle may include a containment vessel, and
may further include a cap removably connected with the containment
vessel. The containment vessel includes the opening, and the cap contains
a spout.

[0010] In another aspect, the bottle may include a strap movably connected
with the bottle. The strap may include a stopper for closing/sealing the
spout.

[0011] In another aspect, the cap may include a pair of asymmetric keyways
for rotatably receiving the ends of the strap.

[0012] In another aspect, the bottle may be generally cylindrical, and the
bottle may have an outer diameter of no greater than about 4 inches.

[0013] In another aspect, the bottle may have a volume of at least about
0.75 liters, and a volume of no greater than about 1.25 liters.

[0014] In another aspect, the bottle may be reusable.

[0015] In another aspect, the present invention provides a water treatment
device including a housing assembly and at least one bottle.

[0016] An advantage of the water bottle is that it is configured to be
used in connection with a specific water treatment device. More
particularly, the water bottle is configured to be removably inserted
into the device and, in the process of doing so, the water bottle
actuates a valve that controls the flow of treated water into the water
bottle. To do so successfully, the water bottle must be configured a
particular way. The water bottle is also configured such that the spout
can form a hermetic seal with the valve. In this manner, the likelihood
of having water spill from, or overflow from, the water bottle during the
filling process can be almost eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention will be further described with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a water treatment system
according to the invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing assembly with the lid
removed.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a valve.

[0022] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a treatment cartridge.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a treatment cartridge.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a water treatment insert.

[0025] FIG. 8a is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a water
treatment insert.

[0026] FIG. 8b is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8b-8b of FIG.
8a.

[0027] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a bottle.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a bottle.

[0029] FIGS. 11a-c are cross-sectional views showing the filling sequence
of a bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1
generally shows the components of a water treatment device 2 for filling
one or more bottles 4 with, for example, treated water. In one aspect,
the device 2 may be freestanding and portable. That is, the device 2 is
not plumbed, or connected directly to a water source, and is not mounted
or installed at a particular location. Rather, the device 2 may be
readily moved from one location to another. In another aspect, the device
2 may be gravity-fed. That is, the unfiltered water is not pressurized
and is allowed to flow freely through the device. The device 2 typically
has a relatively small size (e.g. less than approximately 1 cubic foot),
which allows the device 2 to be placed on a countertop or in a
refrigerator without consuming too much space, and has an overall height
that allows the device 2 to be positioned under a faucet in, for example,
a kitchen sink (e.g. less than 1 foot (30 centimeters) high), whereby tap
water can be directed into the device 2 from the faucet. It is also
desirable that the device 2 be lightweight (e.g. less than 12 pounds when
full of water) to facilitate portability.

[0031] The device 2 includes a housing assembly 6, a treatment cartridge 8
removably arranged within the housing assembly 6, and an optional lid 9
removably arranged on the top of the housing assembly 6. In the
illustrated embodiment, the device 2 is designed for use with up to four
bottles at one time. The present disclosure, however, contemplates
devices that may be designed for use with as few as one bottle, or
designed for use with more than four bottles (e.g. 8, 12, or more).

[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown an exemplary housing
assembly 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing assembly 6
includes a stand 10 and a housing unit 12 supported by the stand 10. The
stand 10 includes a base 14 and a support member 16 extending upwardly
from the base 14 to the housing unit 12. The base 14 has a generally
circular footprint, which has a sufficiently large surface area so the
device 2 is not prone to tipping. Bases 14 having other sizes and shapes
may also be used.

[0033] The support member 16 is generally cylindrical and has a height
that allows one or more bottles 4 to be positioned between the base 14
and the housing unit 12, as described in more detail below.

[0034] The housing unit 12 is arranged on the upper end of the support
member 16 opposite the base 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the
housing unit 12 is generally bowl-shaped, and includes a generally planar
circular bottom wall portion 12a, and an annular side wall portion 12b
that extends upwardly from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion
12a. The bottom wall portion 12a and side wall portion 12b combine to
define a water treatment reservoir 18. The bottom wall portion 12a of the
housing unit 12 is generally planar, but may be contoured or sloped to
control water flow.

[0035] The reservoir 18 may have a diameter "d1" of at least about 6
centimeters (cm), at least about 8 cm, at least about 10 cm, or at least
about 12 cm, a diameter "d1" of no greater than about 30 cm, no
greater than about 25 cm, or no greater than about 20 cm, and a depth
"h1" of less than about 10 cm, less than about 8 cm, or less than
about 6 cm. The reservoir 18 may have a volume of less than about 2
liters, less than about 1.75 liters, or less than about 1.5 liters. In
the illustrated embodiment, the housing unit 12 and reservoir 18 have
generally cylindrical shapes, but housing units and reservoirs having
other sizes and shapes are contemplated in connection with the present
disclosure.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of valves 20 are
arranged in fluid communication with the water treatment reservoir 18,
thereby to allow treated water to selectively exit the water treatment
reservoir 18. For illustrative purposes, in FIG. 3 one valve (i.e. the
valve on the left side of FIG. 3) is shown in its actuated or open
condition, and one valve (i.e. the one on the right side of FIG. 3) is
shown in its non-actuated closed condition.

[0037] Water may exit through all valves 20 simultaneously, or through any
one of the valves 20 individually. Each valve 20 includes a water
inlet/air exit port 22 that opens to the reservoir 18. The water
inlet/air exit port 22 defines an orifice 24 in the bottom wall 12a of
the housing unit 12. Each valve 20 further includes a water exit/air
inlet port 26 opposite the water inlet/air exit port 22 for fluid
communication with an associated bottle 4. In a specific embodiment, the
water inlet/air exit port 22 defines an orifice 24 having a cross
sectional area of at least about 1 cm2, and a cross sectional area
of no greater than about 2 cm2.

[0038] Each valve 20 is operable between an unactuated condition as shown
in the right hand side of FIG. 3, and an actuated open condition, as
shown on the left hand side of FIG. 3. In the closed condition, air and
water are not able to flow through the valve 20. In the open condition,
water is free to flow downwardly from the water treatment reservoir 18
through the water inlet/air exit port 22, through the valve 20, out the
water exit/air inlet port 26, and into an associated bottle 4, and air
entrapped in the associated bottle 4 is free to simultaneously flow
upwardly through the water exit/air inlet port 26, through the valve 20,
out the water inlet/air exit port 22, and into the surrounding
environment.

[0039] In accordance with a characterizing aspect of the device 2, the
base 14 includes an inclined cam surface 28 angled upwardly in the
direction of the support member 16. The inclined cam surface 28 serves to
gradually urge a bottle 4 upwardly against an associated valve 20 as the
bottom of the bottle 4 is slid along the inclined cam surface 28 by a
user in the direction of the support member 16, thereby to actuate the
valve 20 from its closed to its open condition. That is, when the top of
a bottle 4 is placed into contact with a valve 20, and the bottom of a
bottle 4 is urged upwardly along the inclined cam surface 28, the top of
the bottle 4 serves to actuate the valve 20 from its closed condition to
its open condition, thereby allowing treated water to flow from the water
treatment reservoir 18 into the bottle 4, and allowing air entrapped in
the bottle 4 to be released from the bottle 4 to the surrounding
environment in the manner described above.

[0040] A protrusion 30 is provided on the inclined cam surface 28 to
retain the bottle 4 in a generally vertical installed position when the
bottle 4 has reached the desired location along the inclined cam surface
28. In its installed position, the bottle 4 is held snuggly between the
base 14 and a corresponding valve 20, which is actuated to its open
condition. The protrusion 30 serves to snap and lock the bottle 4 into
place between the base 14 and an associated valve 20, and thereby
provides the user with an indication as to when the bottle 4 has been
properly installed in the device 2. Upon removal, the protrusion 30
serves to release the bottle 4 from the device 2, and thereby provides
the user with an indication as to when the bottle 4 can be readily
removed from the device 2.

[0041] The distance between the base 14 and each valve 20 is configured to
closely match the height of the bottle 4. That is, the distance from the
top of the base 14 and, more particularly, the distance from the
protrusion 30, to the bottom of an associated valve 20 must be sufficient
to allow the bottle 4 to fit between the base 14 and the associated valve
20, but is not so large that the bottle fails to actuate the valve 20
when the bottle 4 is placed in its installed condition. That is, the
distance between the base 14 and the associated valve 20 must be short
enough to ensure that the bottle 4 actuates the valve 20 upon reaching
its installed position, but is not so short that the bottle does not fit
securely between the base 14 and the valve 20.

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a detailed view of a valve
20 in its non-actuated closed condition. The illustrated valve is
intended to represent any of the valves 20. In the illustrated
embodiment, the valve 20 includes at least one air flow passageway 32 and
at least one water flow passageway 34. The air flow passageway 32
protrudes from the orifice 24 (i.e. beyond the plane defined by the top
surface of the bottom wall 12a of the housing unit 12), thereby to
promote the separate flow of air through the air flow passageway 32 and
flow of water through the water flow passageway 34, respectively.

[0043] The valve 20 includes a valve member 36, a sleeve member 38
arranged around the valve member 36, and a biasing member 40 arranged to
urge the sleeve member 38 downwardly into contact with the valve member
36. The valve member 36 extends downwardly from the housing unit 12 and
includes a terminal end that defines a sealing portion 36a. The upper end
of the valve member 36 (i.e. the end opposite the sealing portion 36a) is
attached to the bottom wall 12a of the housing unit 12, and therefore
remains in a fixed position relative to the housing unit 12. The sleeve
member 38 is permitted to move repeatedly upwardly and downwardly along
the axis of the valve member 24, thereby opening and closing the valve
20, respectively.

[0044] The lower end 42 of the sleeve member 38 contains the water
exit/air inlet port 26, which leads to an internal flow channel 44 within
the sleeve member 38. The sleeve member 38 includes a frustoconical outer
surface 46 that extends from the exposed end 42 of the sleeve member 38
upwardly toward the housing unit 12, and includes an annular shoulder
surface 47 that extends radially outwardly from the frustoconical surface
46 adjacent the housing unit 12. The outer diameter of the frustoconical
surface 46 may vary from about 2 cm adjacent the exposed end 42 of the
sleeve 38, to about 2.5 cm adjacent the shoulder surface 47. The shoulder
surface 47 may have an inner diameter adjacent the frustoconical surface
46 of about 2.5 cm, and an outer diameter of about 3 cm. Depending on the
specific geometry of the sleeve member 38, the surface 46 may encompass a
portion of the inner surface that defines the flow channel 44. That is,
the water exit/air inlet port 26 may be recessed, whereby the sealing
portion 36a of the valve member 36 forms a seal with an inner surface of
the sleeve member 38 leading to the flow channel 44.

[0045] The sleeve member 38 serves two functions. First, the sleeve member
38 serves to form a seal with the valve member 36, thereby to open and
close the valve 20. Second, the sleeve member 38 serves to form a seal
with the bottle 4, thereby allowing the bottle 4 to be filled without
leaking or spilling. That is, the sleeve member 38, and more
particularly, surfaces 46 and/or 47, form two seals: one with the valve
member 36, and one with the opening of a bottle 4. The sealing portion
36a of the valve member 36 is arranged to selectively sealingly engage
the sleeve member 38 in the vicinity of the water exit/air inlet port 26,
thereby closing the water exit/air inlet port 26 and minimizing the
amount of water that can spill from the valve 20 when the bottle 4 is
removed from the device 2. Surfaces 46 and/or 47 provide a contact
surface against which the opening in the top of a bottle may form a
hermetic seal, thereby forming a closed system that prevents the bottle
from overflowing during filling. That is, when a bottle 4 is filled with
treated water, the seal created between the sleeve member 38 and the
bottle 4 prevents water from overflowing from the top of the bottle 4,
and the seal created between the sleeve member 38 and the sealing portion
36a of the valve member 36 prevents flow through and/or leakage from the
valve 20 when the valve is closed.

[0046] In one embodiment, the outer surface 46, 47 of the sleeve member 36
may comprise an elastomeric material that serves to facilitate the
formation of an airtight and watertight seal with the sealing portion 36a
of the valve member 36, and also form an airtight and watertight seal
with the opening of the bottle 4.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member 40 is a helical
compression spring that normally exerts a force against the sleeve member
38 that urges the valve 20 to its non-actuated or closed condition. The
valve 20 may be opened by exerting a force against the sleeve member 38
that overcomes the spring force. This may be accomplished, for example,
by placing the top of a bottle 4 against the sleeve member 36, and
manually forcing the bottle 4 upwardly to overcome the spring force,
thereby actuating the valve 20 to its open condition.

[0048] Referring again to FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the
device 2 includes an optional lid 9 arranged to enclose the reservoir 18.
The device 2 may also include a drain valve 50 arranged in fluid
communication with the reservoir 18. The drain valve 50 allows any water
remaining in the reservoir 18 after the bottles 4 have been filled to be
easily drained from reservoir 18.

[0049] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the illustrated treatment cartridge
8 includes a tray member 52, water treatment material 54 arranged within
the tray member 52, and an optional water distribution plate 56 arranged
in the tray member 52 adjacent the treatment material 54. The tray member
52 includes a circular bottom wall portion 52a containing at least one
drain opening 58 arranged to allow treated water to exit the cartridge 8,
and includes an annular side wall portion 52b that extends upwardly from
the periphery of the bottom wall portion 52a. The water distribution
plate 56 is arranged in the tray member 52 to define a water treatment
chamber 60 between the tray member 52 and the water distribution plate 56
that contains the treatment material 54. The water distribution plate 56
contains a plurality of water distribution openings 62 that allow
untreated water to pass through the water distribution plate 56 into the
water treatment chamber 60.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the tray member 52 is generally
disc-shaped, and has a height "h2" of no greater than about 4 cm, no
greater than about 5 cm, or no greater than about 6 cm, an inner diameter
"d2" of at least about 4 cm, at least about 5 cm, or at least about
6 cm, and an inner diameter "d2" of no greater than about 25 cm, no
greater than about 20 cm, or no greater than about 18 cm. The tray member
52 may be provided in a wide variety of shapes and sizes depending on the
size and shape of the housing assembly 6, the water treatment material
54, and the desired treatment characteristics of the device 2. Regardless
of the particular configuration, the tray member 52 generally has a
volume of less than about 1.5 liters, less than about 1.2 liters, and
less than about 1 liter.

[0051] The optional water distribution plate 56 includes opposed upper 64
and lower 66 surfaces. The lower surface 66 includes a plurality of rib
portions 68 for maintaining the water distribution plate 56 in spaced
relation from the treatment material 54. The spaced region between the
water distribution plate 56 and treatment material 54 defines a pre-water
treatment manifold 70 that creates a region of generally uniform flow and
pressure drop as the untreated water enters the treatment material 54.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall portion 52a of the
tray member 52 is generally conical and slopes downwardly from the outer
side wall portion 52b in the direction of the centrally located drain
opening 58. That is, the bottom wall portion 52a is radially inclined
from the drain opening 58 to the side wall portion 52b. Configured in
this manner, treated water is directed to the drain opening 58 after it
passes through the treatment material 54. In addition, air from the
bottle 4 exiting a water inlet/air exit port 22 is directed radially
upwardly and outwardly along the bottom surface of the bottom wall
portion 52a. To further direct the flow of treated water, the upper
surface of the bottom wall portion 52a includes a plurality of radially
extending guide vanes 72 that direct the flow of treated water toward the
drain opening 58.

[0053] The water distribution plate 56 may be readily separable from, or
permanently affixed to, the tray member 52. That is, the water
distribution plate 56 may be manually removable from the tray member 52
to allow for access to, and removal and/or replacement of, the treatment
material 54, or the water distribution plate 56 and tray member 52 may be
permanently joined to form a sealed enclosure for the water treatment
material 54 that restricts access to the treatment material 54. When the
distribution plate 56 and tray member 52 are joined to form a single unit
enclosing the treatment material 54, the treatment material 54 may be
replaced by replacing the entire cartridge 8. In the illustrated
embodiment, the water distribution plate 56 is intended to be removable.
In this manner, the treatment material 54 may be replaced, and the
distribution plate 56 and tray member 52 may be reused.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 8 includes a handle 74
extending outwardly from the upper surface 64 of the water distribution
plate 56. The handle 74 is provided to facilitate removal of the
cartridge 8 from the housing assembly 6, or to facilitate separation of
the distribution plate 56 from the tray member 52, thereby allowing the
water treatment material 54 to be replaced.

[0055] In one aspect of the illustrated embodiment, when the water
distribution plate 56 is installed in the tray member 52, a peripheral
edge portion of the water treatment material 54 is pinched between the
tray member 52 and the water distribution plate 56, thereby forming a
seal that minimizes the bypass of untreated water around the water
treatment material.

[0056] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, when the water distribution
plate 56 is operationally positioned (i.e. fully seated) in the tray
member 52, the tray member 52 includes a rim portion 52c that extends
upwardly beyond the water distribution plate 56. In this manner, the rim
portion 52c and water distribution plate 56 combine to form a
pre-treatment collection zone 75 for the untreated water being directed
into the treatment cartridge 8. The collection zone 75 may have a height
"h3" (FIG. 6) of less than about 4 cm, less than about 3 cm, or less
than about 2 cm. The collection zone 75 may have a volume of less than
about 1 liter, less than about 0.7 liters, or less than about 0.5 liters.
In accordance with one aspect of the device 2, the ratio of the volume of
the bottles 4 to the volume of the collection zone 75 is greater than
about 1:1. That is, the storage capacity of the bottles 4 is greater than
the volume of the collection zone 75. In other more specific embodiment,
the ratio of the volume of the bottles 4 to the volume of the collection
zone 75 may be at least about 3:1, at least about 5:1, or at least about
7:1.

[0057] The tray member 52 further includes an annular lip portion 52d that
extends outwardly from the top edge of the tray member 52 for supporting
the treatment cartridge 8 in the housing unit 12.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, the water distribution openings 62
are provided in a pattern such that the total cross sectional surface
area of the water distribution openings 62 is greatest in a perimeter
region of the water distribution plate 56. In addition, the size of each
water distribution opening 62 increases in the direction away from the
center of the distribution plate 56. The illustrated pattern is intended
to increase the flow rate of untreated water through the distribution
plate 56 in the peripheral region of the distribution plate 56, thereby
promoting more uniform flow through the treatment material 54. That is,
the open area allowing untreated water to pass through the distribution
plate 56 increases radially outwardly. In this manner, the center region
of the treatment material 54 sees a lower flow rate of untreated water,
and the outer region sees a higher flow rate of untreated water, and
because the drain opening 58 is centrally located, the water is exposed
to a more uniform degree of treatment.

[0059] In accordance with a characterizing aspect of the treatment
cartridge 8, the water treatment material 54 has a low profile. That is,
the water treatment material 54 is relatively thin compared to its width.
More specifically, the ratio of the width of the water treatment material
54 ("d3" in FIG. 5) to the average height of the water treatment
material ("h" in FIG. 5) is generally greater than about 1:1. That is,
the water treatment material 54 is typically wider than it is high. Thus,
by way of example, if the water treatment material 54 has an average
height "h" of 1/2 inch (1.27 cm), the water treatment material 54 will
typically have a width d3 of at least about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm). In
more specific embodiments, the ratio of the width to the average height
of the water treatment material 54 may be at least about 5:1, at least
about 10:1, or at least about 20:1. For water treatment material 54
having a circular or disc-like shape, as illustrated in FIG. 5, it will
be recognized that the width d3 of the water treatment material 54
is equal to the diameter of the water treatment material 54. It will also
be recognized that the water treatment material 54 may be provided in a
variety of shapes and sizes.

[0060] In another aspect, the ratio of the transverse cross-sectional area
of the water treatment material 54 to the average thickness of the water
treatment material 54 is at least about 5 inches (12.7 cm). In more
specific embodiments, the ratio of the transverse cross-sectional area to
the average thickness of the water treatment material 54 may be at least
about 10 inches (25.4 cm), at least about 30 inches (76.2 cm), at least
about 50 inches (127 cm), at least about 75 inches (191 cm), or at least
about 100 inches (254 cm). The ratio of the transverse cross-sectional
area to the average thickness of the water treatment material 54 may be
no greater than about 300 inches (762 cm), no greater than about 250
inches (635 cm), or no greater than about 200 inches (508 cm). The
transverse cross-sectional area of the water treatment material 54 is the
area bounded by the perimeter of the water treatment material 54. The
transverse cross-sectional area may also be thought of as the
cross-sectional area defined by a plane arranged perpendicular to the
direction of flow of water 59 (FIG. 5) through the water treatment
material 54. In the case of water treatment material 54 having a circular
or disc-like shape, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the transverse
cross-sectional area of the water treatment material 54 is the area of a
circle having a diameter defined by the width d3 of the water
treatment material 54. Thus, by way of example, if the water treatment
material 54 has an average height of 0.5 cm and a diameter of 6 cm, the
ratio of the transverse cross-sectional area to the average height of the
water treatment material would be about 57 cm.

[0061] In one aspect, the water treatment material 54 may include at least
one of woven, knitted, and non-woven material. In one embodiment, the
treatment material includes carbon, such as activated carbon. Suitable
water treatment materials include granular activated carbon available
under the trade designation TOG-NDS 20×50 from Calgon Cargon
Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., and activated carbon cloth available under
the trade designation Zorflex ACC from Calgon Cargon Corporation,
Pittsburgh, Pa. In a specific embodiment, the treatment material 54 has a
thickness of less than about 3/4 inch. The treatment material 54 may be
disc-shaped, and may have a diameter of at least about 5 inches, and a
diameter of no greater than about 7 inches.

[0062] In accordance with one aspect of one embodiment, the water
treatment material 54 has a flow rate of at least about 0.5, at least
about 0.75, or at least about 1.0 gallons per minute (gpm) at 3/4 inch of
water pressure head. In another aspect, the water treatment material 54
meets NSF Standard 42 for free chlorine reduction for a capacity of at
least about 40 gallons, at least about 70 gallons, and at least about 100
gallons.

[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, the water treatment cartridge 8 is
removably arranged within the reservoir 18 of the housing unit 12. In a
specific embodiment, the water treatment cartridge 8 is loosely arranged
in the reservoir 18. In this manner the cartridge 8 may be manually
removed from the housing unit 12 by a user, thereby allowing the user to
readily replace the cartridge or the treatment material 54.

[0064] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a water treatment insert
201 comprising water treatment material 254 similar to the water
treatment material 54, and a porous or open support structure 255 secured
to the water treatment material 254. In the illustrated embodiment, the
support structure 255 is secured to the upper surface of the water
treatment material 254. In other embodiments, the support structure 255
may be arranged either within or on the lower surface of the water
treatment material 254.

[0065] The water treatment insert 201 is configured for arrangement within
the tray member 52 to treat water directed into the water treatment
reservoir 18. The direction of flow of water through the water treatment
insert 201 is indicated by reference numeral 259. The water treatment
insert 201 may be used in conjunction with the water distribution plate
56, or without it. That is, the support structure 255 may take the place
of the water distribution plate 56, therefore rendering the water
distribution plate 56 unnecessary.

[0066] The support structure 255 may comprise, for example, a net, mesh,
scrim or screen-like material, which may be formed of, for example,
paper, metal, or synthetic plastic materials. Such materials are open
and/or porous, thereby allowing water to pass through the water treatment
insert 201. The support structure 255 may serve to distribute the
untreated water so the untreated water flows more evenly and uniformly
through the water treatment material 254. The support structure 255 also
tends to enhance the durability of the water treatment insert 201.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the water treatment insert 201
includes an optional annular gasket 257 that extends generally around the
perimeter of the water treatment material 254. Provided in this manner,
the gasket 257 forms a seal with the tray member 52 when the water
treatment insert 201 is placed in the tray member 52, thereby minimizing
the amount of untreated water that may bypass the water treatment
material 254. If the water treatment insert 201 is provided with a gasket
257, the water treatment insert 201 is typically placed in the tray
member 52 because the tray allows air from a bottle 4 to readily escape
though a gap between the tray member 52 and the side wall 12b of the
housing unit 12. If the gasket 257 is omitted, the water treatment insert
201 may be placed either in the tray member 52 or directly into the water
treatment reservoir 18 of the housing unit 12. This is possible
because--without the gasket 257--the water treatment insert 201 does not
form a seal with the tray member 52 or the housing unit 12, and air from
a bottle 4 is able to escape by flowing around and/or through the water
treatment insert 201.

[0068] Referring now to FIGS. 8a and 8b, there is shown a water treatment
insert 301 comprising water treatment material 354 enclosed within a
pouch 361. The pouch 361 may be formed of an open net, mesh, scrim or
screen-like material formed of, for example, metal or synthetic plastic
materials, or it may be formed of a water permeable material such as a
porous paper material. The illustrated water treatment insert 301 may be
placed either directly in the housing unit 12 or in the tray member 52,
and may be used either with or without the water distribution plate 56

[0069] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a bottle 4 which is
intended to represent any of the bottles depicted in FIG. 2. Referring
also to FIG. 3, the bottle 4 may be arranged to receive treated water
dispensed from any one of the valves 20. Alternatively, a plurality of
bottles 4 may be arranged in the device 2 to receive treated water
dispensed from each of the valves 20 simultaneously.

[0070] In one desirable embodiment, the bottle 4 is configured so it can
be arranged securely between one of the protrusions 30 located on the
upper surface of the base 14 and one of the valves 20 that extends
downwardly beneath the housing unit 12. More specifically, the bottle 4
is sufficiently tall so that it actuates the valve 20 when the top of the
bottle is placed against a valve 20 and the bottle 4 is urged upwardly
along the included cam surface 28, but is not so tall that the bottle 4
cannot be installed in a fully upright and vertical position between the
protrusion 30 and an associated fully actuated valve 20. In one specific
embodiment, the bottle has a height of at least about 6.5 inches, at
least about 7.0 inches, or at least about 7.2 inches, and no greater than
about 8.0 inches, no greater than about 7.7 inches, or no greater than
about 7.5 inches. In another specific aspect, the bottle 4 is generally
cylindrical, and has an outer diameter of no greater than about 6 inches,
no greater than about 5 inches, or no greater than 4 inches.

[0071] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottle 4 includes a containment
vessel 76 and a cap 78 removably connected with the containment vessel
76. The cap 78 is threadably connected with the containment vessel 76.
The containment vessel 76 contains a wide opening 80 that allows the
interior of the containment vessel 76 to be readily accessed for
cleaning, and the cap 78 contains a narrow opening or spout 82 configured
to sealingly engage the sleeve member 38 of a valve 20, thereby to allow
the bottle 4 to be filled, and to allow treated water to be poured out of
the bottle 4.

[0072] In one embodiment, the narrow cap opening/spout 82 may have a
diameter of at least about 0.87 inches, at least about 0.91 inches, or at
least about 0.94 inches, and a diameter of no greater than about 1.06
inches, no greater than about 1.01 inches, or no greater than about 0.98
inches. In one embodiment, the bottle 4 has a volume of at least about
0.25 liters, at least about 0.5 liters, or at least about 0.75 liters,
and has a volume of no greater than about 1.75 liters, no greater than
about 1.5 liters, or no greater than about 1.25 liters.

[0073] In one aspect, the device 2 has a storage capacity of untreated
water that is less than the storage capacity of the device for treated
water. That is, the device 2 has a larger holding capacity for treated
water than untreated water. The storage capacity of treated water may be
1.5 times greater than the storage capacity of untreated water, 2 times
greater, or 2.5 times greater. The storage capacity of untreated water
may be, for example, the volume of the tray member 52 before the water
enters the water treatment material 54, and the storage capacity of
treated water may be the combined volume of the bottles 4. In one aspect,
the storage capacity of untreated water may be the volume of the
pre-water treatment manifold 70 combined with the volume of the
pre-treatment collection zone 75.

[0074] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottle 4 includes a bottom
surface 84 having a detent 86 that mates with one of the protrusions 30
on the inclined cam surface 28 of the base 14, whereby the bottle 4 snaps
into place when the detent 86 reaches the protrusion 30. In this manner,
the detent 86 and protrusion 30 provide the user with an indication as to
when the bottle 4 is properly installed in the device 2. When the bottle
4 is installed properly, it is held snuggly between the protrusion 30 and
an associated valve 20 in an upright position, and the valve 20 is
actuated open.

[0075] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottle 4 includes a flexible
strap 88 that includes a stopper 90 configured to fit into, and thereby
repeatedly open and close, the spout 82. The strap 88 is pivotally
connected with the bottle 4 to allow the strap 88 to be selectively moved
between a first position in which it does not interfere with access to
the spout 82, and a second position in which the stopper 90 may be
inserted and removed from the spout 82.

[0076] In the illustrated embodiment, the strap 88 is removably connected
with the bottle 4 via a pair of asymmetric keyways 92 contained in
opposite sides of the cap 78, and a pair of matching projections 96 that
extend inwardly from the ends of the strap 88. In order for the strap 88
to be connected with the cap 78, the projections 96 must be aligned with
the keyways 92. Because of the asymmetry of the keyways 92 and the
projections 96, this can only be accomplished by positioning the strap 88
upside down so the stopper 90 is arranged directly under the cap 78 (i.e.
opposite the spout 82). Arranged in this manner, the projections 96 may
be inserted into the keyways 92, thereby allowing the strap 88 to be
connected with the cap 78. To keep the strap 88 connected to the cap 78
(i.e. to prevent the projections 96 from coming out of the keyways 92)
the strap 88 is rotated. Once the strap 88 is rotated, the projections 96
become locked into the keyways 92. Thus, the strap 88 can only be
attached to, or removed from, the cap 78 when the projections 96 are
properly oriented to fit into the keyways 92, and this can only be
accomplished when the strap 88 is rotated and positioned directly beneath
the cap 78. Thus, when the cap 78 is secured to a containment vessel 76,
and the containment vessel 76 occupies the space directly below the cap
78, the strap 88 cannot be removed from the cap 78. That is, the
containment vessel 76 prevents the strap 88 from being rotated to the
position that allows the strap 88 to be separated from the cap 78.

[0077] Other ways of removably attaching the strap to the cap are also
contemplated. For example, the cap may include elongated keyway channels
that slidably mate with the keys on the strap, whereby the ends of the
keyway channels are blocked by the containment vessel when the cap is
secured to the containment vessel, thereby retaining the keys in the
channel. As such, the strap may only be connected with, or removed from,
the bottle when the cap is removed from the containment vessel.

[0078] Referring now to FIGS. 11a-c, the operation of the device 2 is
demonstrated. FIG. 11a shows the device in standby mode with one bottle 4
about to be installed in the device 2. Each of the valves 20 is closed so
that no water can pass through the valves 20. The bottle 4 is tilted at
an angle so the spout 82 is arranged around the sleeve member 38. The
bottom of the bottle 4 is then slid upwardly along the inclined surface
28 until the detent 86 in the bottom of the bottle 4 locks into place on
the protrusion 30. As this occurs, the sleeve member 38 is urged upwardly
by the bottle 4 to open the valve 20, and the spout 82 of the cap 78
forms a seal with the sleeve member 38. The bottle 4 is now installed in
the device 2.

[0079] Once at least one bottle 4 has been installed in the device 2,
untreated tap water 100 may be poured into the reservoir 18 as
illustrated in FIG. 11b. This may be accomplished, for example, by
placing the device 2 directly under a faucet or otherwise directing the
flow of tap water into the reservoir 18. The untreated water 100 then
flows through the water distribution openings 62 in the water
distribution plate 56, through the water treatment material 54, and out
the drain opening 58 located in the bottom of the treatment cartridge 8.
Treated water 102 then flows through a water inlet/air exit port 22,
through a valve 20, through a water exit/air inlet port 26, and into the
bottle 4. Because the bottle 4 and sleeve member 38 are hermetically
sealed, the only way for air 104 trapped in the bottle to escape is to
flow upwardly through the water exit/air inlet port 26, through a valve
20, and out the water inlet/air exit port 22. From here, the exhausted
air flows upwardly and outwardly along the bottom surface 52a of the tray
member 52, and then upwardly along the sides 52b of the tray member 52
until it exits the top of the device 2.

[0080] Referring now to FIG. 11c, once the bottle 4 is filled with treated
water 102, the flow of treated water into the bottle 4 automatically
stops. This happens when the water level in the bottle 4 reaches the
bottom of the sleeve member 38. When full, the bottle 4 contains a small
volume of trapped air 104 between the top of the water and the sleeve
member 38. The full bottle 4 may then be removed by pulling outwardly on
the bottom of the bottle 4 until the bottle 4 is released from the
protrusion 30, thereby allowing the bottle 4 to pivot outwardly as the
bottom of the bottle 4 slides down the inclined surface 28. As this
occurs, the sleeve member 38 slides downwardly, thereby closing the valve
20. With the valve 20 now closed, any water remaining in the valve 20 is
prevented from draining out as the bottle 4 is removed from the device 2.
The treated water 102 may then be consumed immediately, or the stopper 90
may be placed in the spout 82 to close the bottle 4 so the treated water
102 may be stored and/or transported for later use.

[0081] The bottles 4, housing assembly 6, and treatment cartridge 8 may be
constructed from any materials suitable for use in treating, dispensing,
or containing of potable liquids. The bottles 4, housing assembly 6, and
treatment cartridge 8 may be constructed using materials that are
light-weight to facilitate portability of the device 2. Suitable
materials include, for example, synthetic plastic materials such as
thermoplastic polymer materials typically used for liquid containers.
Suitable thermoplastic polymer materials may include polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polycarbonates, polypropylene, and the like. In a
specific embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer material may be
transparent and have sufficient strength to withstand sanitizing for
enabling its reuse. Other suitable materials, such as thermosetting
plastics, composite materials, metals, and combinations thereof may also
be used. Glass and glass-like materials, ceramic materials, metals, and
metal alloys may also be used in the construction of the bottles 4,
housing assembly 6, and/or treatment cartridge 8.

[0082] Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that various
changes and modifications may be made to the invention described above
without deviating from the inventive concept. Thus, the scope of the
present invention should not be limited to the structures described in
this application, but only by the structures described by the language of
the claims and the equivalents of those structures.